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Jan 27, 2014

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America welcomed today with enthusiasm and love His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios hosted a luncheon in honor of Archbishop Anastasios, with the participation of religious leaders including the Roman-Catholic Archbishop of New York Timothy Cardinal Dolan, diplomats and lay leaders of the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Demetrios of America and Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey welcomed His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios upon his arrival, along with clergy and lay members of the staff of the Archdiocese. Archbishop Anastasios said he was very happy to be at the Archdiocese again and expressed his gratitude for the welcome and the hospitality.

During the luncheon that followed, Archbishop Demetrios presented His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios to the guests and spoke about his long missionary work in Asia and Africa and his work for the resurrection of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. On the request of His Eminence, Archbishop Anastasios, addressed the luncheon participants and spoke about the future of inter-religious relationships, the coexistence with other religious communities and the understanding and respect for the “other.”

Among the luncheon guests were Archbishop Justinian of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States, Archbishop Nikon of the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA), Metropolitan Joseph of the Orthodox Bulgarian Diocese, Bishop Nicholas representing the Antiochian Archdiocese and Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, chief secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Metropolitan John of Korçës (Korytsa, Albania), who is accompanying His Beatitude in his trip. Diplomats present included the Ambassador of Greece to the United States Christos Panagopoulos, the Permanent Representative of Greece in the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Spinellis; the Consul General of Greece in New York George Iliopoulos; and representing Cyprus, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations Ambassador Nikos Emiliou and the Consul General of Cyprus in New York Ambassador Vassilis Philippou. Additionally the luncheon attended, Mr. Michael Jaharis, vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Council; Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockville Center William Murphey, Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Fr. Nathaniel Symeonides, the legal counsel of the Archdiocese Emmanuel Demos, great benefactor Christos Spyropoulos and Archdiocese Executive Director Jerry Dimitiou.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 28, Archbishop Anastasios will deliver the “Orthodoxy in America Lecture” at Fordham University on the topic Sharing the Good News in a Multi-Religious Country: Theological Reflections on Other Religions, while Fordham University will confer upon His Beatitude an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs and Celebration of Greek Letters, Archbishop Anastasios will take part in the festivities, will address the students during the morning Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and in the evening will be the keynote speaker during a celebration at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.